Sketchbook Challenge 2021

So excited to launch into this year’s 30 day sketchbook challenge!
Follow my progress at https://www.facebook.com/tara.aitken2

Day 1: Buttons and Beads
I have an eclectic collection of buttons so I loved picking out a few of my faves. 2B pencil.
 
Day 1 Buttons And Beads
Day 2: Teapot
I’m going to try this more and more through these 30 days as it puts me right out of my comfort zone – no eraser 🙄 but also being ok with the imperfections of my permanent marks.
Dedicated to an old friend and her beloved teapot and many cups shared 🥰
Pigma micron 0.1 marker
Day 2 Teapot
Day 3: Biscuit
 
Back to my 2B graphite for this prompt
Day 3 Biscuit
Day 4: Octopus or Jellyfish
This prompt I found challenging until I found a stunning photo of this jellyfish after an online search. It really reminded me of the diamond in the story All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. All the same this photo inspired my loose ink and watercolour sketch here and I so enjoyed creating it 😘
Day 4 Octopus Or Jellyfish
Day 5: Hooks and Handles
I have this sweet little glass handle to replace a broken one on my daughter’s chest of drawers. Perfect for this drawing. Took me longer than I initially thought but I enjoyed playing with the facets and internal reflections
Day 5 Hooks And Handles
Day 6: Under the Sink
My bamboo vegetable scrubber
0.1 pigma sepia ink
Day 6 Under The Sink
Day 7: Seven
I found this prompt really tough. I spent all day thinking on it and trying to be clever but when I looked up and saw my wooden calendar on the shelf I thought . . perfect!
HB graphite pencil
Day 7 Seven
Day 8: Favourite drink
I like many drinks but I have to say my favourite is the humble iced water with a slice of lemon. This was my third attempt at the glass as I used just ink to sketch. Watercolour wash
Day 8 Favourite Drink
Day 9: Something made of wood
My daughter’s mouse house made when she was 6. Polished driftwood with Jacaranda pod for the mouse and her hand stitched mouse on top. Pigma micron ink pen and watercolour.
Day 9 Something Made Of Wood
Day 10: Something Green
My much loved fiddle leaf ficus. Pigma micron ink pen and watercolour
#30daysketchbookchallenge #30daysketchbookchallenge2021
Day 10 Something Green
Day 11: Paint
It’s funny how with the prompt “Paint” my mind went straight to my daughter’s favourite horse – a skewbald paint called Gem. I also tried to paint with a restricted pallet – I usually have a tendency to go overboard with colours so here I’ve used 5.
Day 11 Paint
Day 12: What’s in your pocket
Playing a bit of catch up tonight with some quick sketches. I so enjoyed doing them.
On Tuesday’s for me it’s golf tees etc. Pigma micron ink and watercolour.
Day 12 What’s In Your Pocket
Day 13: Shopping
Playing a bit of catch up tonight with some quick sketches. I so enjoyed doing them.
I straight away thought of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman so I had a go at drawing her. HB graphite. #30daysketchbookchallenge #30daysketchbookchallenge2021
Day 13 Shopping
Day 14: Something beginning with C
These little ornamental clogs of mine are a bit twee 😄 but it was fun knocking up this quick ink and watercolour sketch on sketch paper
#30daysketchbookchallenge #30daysketchbookchallenge2021
Day 14 Something Beginning With C
Day 15 & 16: Something Old & Something New
I loved doing this watercolour and how it came out up until I added the shadow. But sometimes it works out like that and is all part of the learning 😘
 #30daysketchbookchallenge #30daysketchbookchallenge2021
Day 15 & 16 Something Old & Something New
Day 17: Baskets and Hampers
How I would like to spend a beautiful spring day. . . with a picnic hamper, rug and pillow stretched out under a tree probably with a good book, my sketch pad, yummy food and a bottle of vino to while away the day 😘
Pigma micron ink with watercolour on sketch paper. Image from Google Image Search.
Day 17 Baskets And Hampers

Day 18: Reptile
I’ve been captivated by this image (original photo credit – Nga Manu Images NZ/Flickr) of a Tuatara for a long time and it’s been sitting on my computer desktop for literally a couple of years. This prompt was definitely the nudge I needed. Now I’ve had a play I’d love to do a proper painting and spend time focusing on the beautiful greys and greens of its scales 😘 Pigma micron ink, watercolour and white gouache on sketch paper
#30daysketchbookchallenge #30sketchbookchallenge2021

Day 18 Reptile
Day 19: Lamps & Lampshades
I instantly thought of this lamp of ours with this prompt but as with some of my work I don’t love it and in retrospect think it would have been better as a loose quicker sketch style than a semi-completed painting. All the same I still learnt from the experience as always 😘
Pigma micron ink pen with watercolour and gouache
#30daysketchbookchallenge #30daysketchbookchallenge2021
Day 19 Lamps And Lampshades
Day 20: Jewellery
Loved doing this and getting back to quicker sketching. HB graphite on sketch paper
Day 20 Jewellery
Day 21: Back to School
This was hilarious to me as every time returning to school comes up my kids hunch their shoulders and moan – surely holidays could just go on forever?! So I asked both of them to grab their bags and drag them along the ground while I took a photo from the back. I did this very quick 10 min sketch from those photos. Makes me laugh looking at it and I really love how it turned out for a quick one 😘
 #30daysketchbookchallenge #30daysketchbookchallenge2021
Day 21 Back To School
Day 22: Hands
Hands are so tricky to get right. Here’s my go at a couple of hands. HB graphite
#30daysketchbookchallenge #30daysketchbookchallenge2021
Day 22 Hands
Day 23: Sun & Moon
Quick watercolour and ink sketch of our backyard when we had the most stunning sunset one evening #30daysketchbookchallenge #30daysketchbookchallenge2021
Day 23 Sun And Moon
Day 24: Something you sit on
Just a super quick sketch today as I’m a little behind. Enjoyed working with some perspective here too. 2B graphite #30daysketchbookchallenge #30daysketchbookchallenge2021
Day 24 Something You Sit On
Day 25: Famous Landmarks
Well if you live in my beloved Adelaide you’ll know this landmark and you have probably tried Haighs chocolates too. A quick play with this but it’s sparked my interest to do a finished work of Beehive Corner in the future #30daysketchbookchallenge #30daysketchbookchallenge2021
Day 25 Famous Landmarks
Day 26: In The Laboratory
My son’s vintage microscope. Pencil with watercolour wash sketch on sketch pad #30daysketchbookchallenge #30daysketchbookchallenge2021
Day 26 In The Laboratory
Day 27: The Forest
I came upon this image in a google search and I don’t know it’s source but the winding road through an autumn forest appealed to me. I feel I overworked it but totally enjoyed the process and as usual learnt along the way. Ink and watercolour
#30daysketchbookchallenge #30daysketchbookchallenge2021
Day 27 The Forest
Day 28: Disposable
Again another image that came up in a search that sparked my interest. What I loved most about this image is the composition with the blurred derelict background and the abandoned cup right smack in the foreground – I almost felt sorry for the cup. Another product of convenience and consumerism. Watercolour and white gouache #30daysketchbookchallenge #30daysketchbookchallenge2021
Day 28 Disposable
Day 29: Dance
I saw my very first ballet about 18 months ago – The Nutcracker. I was mesmerised. I absolutely loved doing this ink and watercolour sketch of ballerinas feet in pointe shoes
#30daysketchbookchallenge #30daysketchbookchallenge2021
Day 29 Dance